To Rijk by Duurstede

August 7, 2023

We didn’t get rained on

The Golden Tulip was a very comfortable hotel and we had good meal there last night with a really great Merlot - quite the best wine we have had since leaving home. It seems that leaving at around 10am was the best time to do it weatherwise. We were headed to Wijk by Duurstede as suggested by the man we met yesterday. It was not far but with the uncertainty of the weather feels far enough

These pointed hydrangeas are so typical of the Netherlands

We are not far from Utrecht and the first half of the ride was through what I thought were probably its suburbs. They were neat prosperous little towns separated by two or three kilometres of farm land. We came to a coffee stop and had a most superior coffee which came complete with a little glass containing brandy and whipped cream rather reminding me of the coffee tasting we had at Rudenstein while on the cruise

All this urban area now ended and we were in a really extensive forest area . This is clearly a very popular recreational area and there were walking and cycling tracks in all directions and considering what the weather is like at the moment well used. We kept very firmly to our dedicated route being only too aware of the time we got lost in the Appledorn forest several years ago. The great surprise was a hill. It is the first one since leaving Bremen not that it effected me I just gave my bike a notch more power. There were some interesting buildings including a massive one that had Cannondale written on it. It looks like a castle but all I can get from the internet is that it is a bicycle wholesale outlet. Other interesting buildings looked like castles and one had a beautiful herd of fallow deer beside its walls

Keen to decorate their place in the forest

Fallow Deer beside the wall of what looked like a castle

There are lovely old looking villages as you emerge from the forest and Wijk by Duurstede itself has a lovely little town square and our hotel is right on it. The room is big and comfortable but once more up a flight of very steep stairs. Ken does a great job carting all the stuff up.

The only Deutz truck Ken has ever seen (Deutz are usually tractors)

Today's ride: 38 km (24 miles)
Total: 426 km (265 miles)

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Robyn RichardsLooks like a great ride today. We've spent our day walking around Alkmeer, and eating!
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Robyn RichardsThat would be a nice relaxing day. We have only 2 more nights in the Netherlands
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9 months ago

Jan HaywardHow are you managing those stairs! Youare a Wonder Woman!
Gorgeous bucolic scenery!
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9 months ago